🎬 YouTube Playlist Extractor & Video Data Scraper

Extract complete YouTube playlist data with all video details - fast, reliable, and built for scale.

Get comprehensive video lists, metadata, durations, thumbnails, channel information, playlist descriptions, and update history from any public YouTube playlist. Perfect for content creators, researchers, marketers, and developers who need structured playlist data without API limitations.

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Quick Start

1. Paste your YouTube playlist URL
2. Click "Start"
3. Download results in JSON, CSV, or Excel

That's it! No API keys required, no complex setup, no coding needed.

Try It Now

{
  "playlistUrls": [
    { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=YOUR_PLAYLIST_ID" }
  ]
}

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✨ Key Features

🎯 Complete Data Extraction

• Full Video Lists with position numbers, titles, and URLs
• Playlist Metadata including title, description, total video count, and total duration
• Playlist History with last updated date and view count
• Owner/Creator Info with channel name, ID, and URL
• Video Details with high-quality thumbnails (multiple resolutions)
• Channel Information with names, IDs, and URLs for each video
• Smart URL Handling - Works with any YouTube playlist URL format

⚡ Performance & Reliability

• Lightning Fast - Process 100+ video playlists in seconds
• Unlimited Videos - Automatic pagination extracts ALL videos (no 100-video limit!)
• Smart Metadata Caching - Playlist descriptions and metadata cached (extracted once, reused forever)
• Accurate Video Limiting - maxVideosPerPlaylist works correctly during data output
• Batch Processing - Handle multiple playlists simultaneously
• Error Recovery - Automatic retry logic for failed requests

🛠️ Developer-Friendly

• Clean JSON Output - Structured data ready for any pipeline
• Multiple Export Formats - JSON, CSV, Excel, or direct API access
• Flexible Configuration - Control detail levels and processing options
• RESTful API Access - Integrate directly into your applications
• Well-Documented - Comprehensive examples and clear documentation

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🆚 Why Use This Instead of YouTube Data API?

Feature	This Actor	YouTube Data API
API Quotas	✅ Unlimited	❌ 10,000 units/day
Video Limit	✅ Unlimited (pagination)	❌ 50 per request
Authentication	✅ Not required	❌ OAuth required
Setup Time	✅ Instant	❌ Complex setup
Batch Processing	✅ Multiple playlists	❌ One at a time
Playlist Description	✅ Full text	⚠️ Limited
Last Updated	✅ Included	❌ Not available
Export Formats	✅ JSON, CSV, Excel	❌ JSON only
Thumbnail URLs	✅ All resolutions	⚠️ Limited
Total Duration	✅ Auto-calculated	❌ Manual calculation
Cost	✅ $0.001 per video	⚠️ Quota limits

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📥 Input Configuration

Simple Input Example

{
  "playlistUrls": [
    { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8nQCAhR3tT3ehpyOpoYeUj3KHDEVK9h" }
  ]
}

Complete Input Example

{
  "playlistUrls": [
    { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID_1" },
    { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&list=PLAYLIST_ID_2&index=5" },
    { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID_3" }
  ],
  "includeVideoDetails": true,
  "maxVideosPerPlaylist": 100
}

Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
playlistUrls	array	Required	List of YouTube playlist URLs to extract
includeVideoDetails	boolean	true	Include detailed video info (thumbnails, channels, etc.)
maxVideosPerPlaylist	integer	null	Limit videos per playlist (useful for testing). Leave empty for unlimited

Supported URL Formats

This actor works with any YouTube URL containing a playlist:

• ✅ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID
• ✅ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&list=PLAYLIST_ID
• ✅ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&list=PLAYLIST_ID&index=10
• ✅ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID

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📤 Output Structure

Flattened Data Format

Each video becomes a separate dataset item with complete playlist info attached. Perfect for CSV exports and database imports!

{
  "position": 1,
  "videoId": "lNtw4yxEydM",
  "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNtw4yxEydM",
  "title": "Advanced WordPress Theme Development | Introduction",
  "duration": "5:25",
  "durationLabel": "5 minutes, 25 seconds",
  "isPlayable": true,
  "thumbnail": {
    "url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lNtw4yxEydM/hqdefault.jpg",
    "width": 336,
    "height": 188,
    "allThumbnails": [...]
  },
  "channel": {
    "name": "Imran Sayed - Codeytek Academy",
    "id": "UC0SDxbLAqoKLACyEPz2wXAg",
    "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@Codeytek"
  },
  "videoInfo": "1.2M views • 3 years ago",
  "playlistInfo": {
    "playlistId": "PLD8nQCAhR3tT3ehpyOpoYeUj3KHDEVK9h",
    "playlistUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8nQCAhR3tT3ehpyOpoYeUj3KHDEVK9h",
    "playlistTitle": "Advanced WordPress Theme Development Course",
    "playlistDescription": "Complete course covering advanced WordPress theme development techniques...",
    "lastUpdated": "Dec 28, 2023",
    "owner": {
      "name": "Codeytek Academy",
      "id": "UC0SDxbLAqoKLACyEPz2wXAg",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@Codeytek"
    },
    "viewCount": "12,310,699 views",
    "videoCount": 118,
    "totalVideosInPlaylist": 118,
    "totalDuration": "20 hours 42 minutes",
    "totalDurationMinutes": 1242
  },
  "extractedAt": "2025-10-12T12:00:00.000Z"
}

Output Fields Explained

Video Information

• position - Video position in the playlist (1, 2, 3...)
• videoId - Unique 11-character YouTube video identifier
• videoUrl - Direct link to the video
• title - Complete video title
• duration - Video duration in MM:SS or HH:MM:SS format
• durationLabel - Human-readable duration description
• isPlayable - Whether the video is currently available
• thumbnail - Thumbnail URLs in multiple resolutions (168px to 336px)
• videoInfo - Views and upload date (e.g., "1.4M views • 7 years ago")

Channel Information

• channel.name - Channel display name
• channel.id - Unique channel identifier
• channel.url - Direct link to the channel

Playlist Context (Attached to Each Video) 🆕

• playlistInfo.playlistId - Unique playlist identifier
• playlistInfo.playlistUrl - Direct link to the playlist
• playlistInfo.playlistTitle - Full playlist title
• playlistInfo.playlistDescription - NEW Complete playlist description
• playlistInfo.lastUpdated - NEW Last update date (e.g., "Dec 28, 2023")
• playlistInfo.owner - NEW Playlist creator/channel info
• playlistInfo.viewCount - NEW Total playlist views
• playlistInfo.videoCount - Number of videos extracted
• playlistInfo.totalVideosInPlaylist - Actual total in playlist
• playlistInfo.totalDuration - Human-readable total duration
• playlistInfo.totalDurationMinutes - Total duration in minutes (for calculations)

Metadata

• extractedAt - ISO 8601 timestamp of when data was extracted

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📊 Pre-Configured Data Views

The actor provides three optimized views for different use cases:

1. 🎬 All Videos with Playlist Info

Complete dataset with all fields - perfect for comprehensive analysis and archival.

Best for: Data analysis, archiving, complete records

2. 📋 Simple Video List

Flattened essential fields only - ideal for quick reference and spreadsheets.

Fields: Position, Title, Video URL, Duration, Channel Name, Playlist Title
Best for: Content planning, quick scanning, sharing with teams

3. 🖼️ Videos with Thumbnails

Focus on visual content with thumbnail images displayed.

Best for: Content curation, visual browsing, presentation materials

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💡 Use Cases & Applications

Education & Research

• Course Planning - Analyze educational playlists for curriculum design
• Content Curation - Build comprehensive learning resource libraries
• Academic Research - Study content organization and video structures
• Duration Estimation - Calculate total learning time for courses
• Historical Tracking - Monitor playlist updates and changes over time

Content Creation & Marketing

• Competitor Analysis - Study competitor playlist strategies and organization
• Content Gap Analysis - Identify missing topics in your content library
• Series Planning - Plan video series and optimal playlist structures
• SEO Research - Analyze successful playlist titles and descriptions
• Thumbnail Analysis - Study thumbnail patterns for engagement optimization
• Update Monitoring - Track when competitors update their playlists

Automation & Development

• Database Building - Create searchable video content databases
• Playlist Monitoring - Track changes in playlists over time
• API Integration - Feed structured data into applications and tools
• Automated Reporting - Generate playlist analytics and insights reports
• Content Aggregation - Build curated video collections from multiple sources

Business Intelligence

• Market Research - Analyze industry playlists and content trends
• Channel Analysis - Understand how successful creators organize content
• Engagement Patterns - Identify optimal playlist lengths and structures
• Content Strategy - Make data-driven decisions about video organization
• View Analytics - Track total views and popularity metrics

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Practical Examples

Example 1: Building a Video Course Database with Metadata

Extract educational playlists with complete metadata:

const ApifyClient = require('apify-client');
const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_TOKEN' });

const run = await client.actor('dz_omar/youtube-playlist-extractor').call({
  playlistUrls: [
    { url: 'https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=COURSE_PLAYLIST_ID' }
  ]
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();

// Each item includes complete playlist metadata
items.forEach(video => {
  console.log(`Lesson ${video.position}: ${video.title}`);
  console.log(`Duration: ${video.duration}`);
  console.log(`Course: ${video.playlistInfo.playlistTitle}`);
  console.log(`Description: ${video.playlistInfo.playlistDescription}`);
  console.log(`Last Updated: ${video.playlistInfo.lastUpdated}`);
  console.log(`Total course length: ${video.playlistInfo.totalDuration}`);
  console.log(`Total views: ${video.playlistInfo.viewCount}`);
});

Example 2: Tracking Playlist Updates

Monitor when playlists are updated:

// Group by playlist and check last updated dates
const playlistUpdates = {};

items.forEach(video => {
  const playlistId = video.playlistInfo.playlistId;
  
  if (!playlistUpdates[playlistId]) {
    playlistUpdates[playlistId] = {
      title: video.playlistInfo.playlistTitle,
      lastUpdated: video.playlistInfo.lastUpdated,
      owner: video.playlistInfo.owner.name,
      videoCount: video.playlistInfo.totalVideosInPlaylist,
      views: video.playlistInfo.viewCount
    };
  }
});

// Display update summary
Object.entries(playlistUpdates).forEach(([id, data]) => {
  console.log(`\nPlaylist: ${data.title}`);
  console.log(`Last Updated: ${data.lastUpdated}`);
  console.log(`Owner: ${data.owner}`);
  console.log(`Videos: ${data.videoCount}`);
  console.log(`Total Views: ${data.views}`);
});

Example 3: Sampling Large Playlists

Test extraction with a limited number of videos:

const run = await client.actor('dz_omar/youtube-playlist-extractor').call({
  playlistUrls: [
    { url: 'https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=LARGE_PLAYLIST' }
  ],
  maxVideosPerPlaylist: 20  // Only extract first 20 videos
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();

console.log(`Extracted ${items.length} sample videos`);
console.log(`Total in playlist: ${items[0].playlistInfo.totalVideosInPlaylist}`);

Example 4: Export with Complete Metadata to CSV

// The actor automatically supports CSV export
// Just download the dataset as CSV from Apify Console

// CSV will include all new fields:
// - playlistInfo.playlistDescription
// - playlistInfo.lastUpdated
// - playlistInfo.owner.name
// - playlistInfo.viewCount
// Perfect for Excel analysis and reporting!

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📊 Output Format Examples

JSON Export (Default)

Perfect for API integration and programmatic access:

[
  {
    "position": 1,
    "videoId": "abc123",
    "title": "Introduction",
    "playlistInfo": {
      "playlistTitle": "Complete Course",
      "playlistDescription": "Learn everything about...",
      "lastUpdated": "Dec 28, 2023",
      "owner": {
        "name": "Creator Name",
        "id": "UC...",
        "url": "https://youtube.com/@creator"
      },
      "viewCount": "12,310,699 views",
      "videoCount": 50,
      "totalVideosInPlaylist": 50
    }
  }
]

CSV Export

Ideal for Excel, Google Sheets, and data analysis:

position,title,videoUrl,duration,channel.name,playlistInfo.playlistTitle,playlistInfo.lastUpdated,playlistInfo.viewCount
1,"Introduction","https://youtube.com/watch?v=abc123","5:25","Creator Name","Complete Course","Dec 28, 2023","12.3M views"
2,"Setup","https://youtube.com/watch?v=def456","8:15","Creator Name","Complete Course","Dec 28, 2023","12.3M views"

Excel Export

Organized sheets with proper formatting and data types - perfect for business reporting.

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📈 Performance Metrics

Speed Benchmarks

Playlist Size	Processing Time	Videos/Second
10-20 videos	2-4 seconds	~5-10
50-100 videos	8-15 seconds	~6-7
100-200 videos	15-30 seconds	~6-7
200-500 videos	30-90 seconds	~5-6
500+ videos	2-3 minutes	~4-5

Note: Times include data extraction, pagination, and processing. Network speed may affect results.

Resource Usage

• Memory: 128-512 MB depending on playlist size
• Compute: 0.002-0.01 compute units per run (varies by playlist size)
• Storage: Minimal - Results stored in Apify dataset
• Cache: Metadata cached for faster subsequent runs

Accuracy

• Extraction Success Rate: 99.9% for public playlists
• Data Accuracy: 100% (direct from YouTube's official data)
• Metadata Completeness: 100% for available fields
• Pagination Reliability: 100% (all videos extracted)

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⚙️ Processing Modes

Free Mode

• Standard processing speed
• Suitable for small to medium batches
• No additional costs
• Reliable and stable performance

Paid Mode (Faster Results)

• Dedicated infrastructure for accelerated processing
• Optimized for high-volume batch operations
• Faster extraction of large video collections
• Automatic fallback to free mode if needed

Both modes extract identical, high-quality data. Paid mode is ideal when you need faster throughput for large batches.

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💰 Pricing & Cost Estimation

Pricing Model

This actor uses a pay-per-video pricing model:

• Actor Start: $0.001 (one-time per run)
• Video Extracted: $0.001 per video

Cost Examples

Scenario	Videos	Total Cost
Small playlist	20	$0.021
Medium playlist	100	$0.101
Large playlist	314	$0.315
Large playlist (500 videos)	500	$0.501
Educational course	150	$0.151
Batch (5 playlists, 250 videos)	250	$0.251
Enterprise (20 playlists, 2000 videos)	2000	$2.001

Apify Store Discounts

Subscribers get automatic discounts:

• Bronze: 10% off
• Silver: 20% off
• Gold: 30% off

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🔍 Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Solutions

❌ "Playlist data not found"

Causes:

• Playlist is private or deleted
• Invalid playlist URL format
• Temporary YouTube server issue

Solutions:

• ✅ Verify playlist is public
• ✅ Use full YouTube URL with list= parameter
• ✅ Try again after a few minutes

⚠️ Video Limit Not Working Correctly

Fixed in Version 2.0!

• ✅ maxVideosPerPlaylist now correctly limits videos during data push
• ✅ You get exactly the number you specify

⚠️ Missing Playlist Description or Metadata

Causes:

• First-time extraction in progress
• Cache not yet populated

Solutions:

• ✅ Metadata is cached after first extraction
• ✅ Subsequent runs will reuse cached metadata

⏱️ Slow Processing

Causes:

• Large playlists (200+ videos)
• Network latency
• Detailed video information extraction

Solutions:

• ✅ Set includeVideoDetails: false for 40-50% speed boost
• ✅ Use maxVideosPerPlaylist for testing
• ✅ Metadata caching speeds up subsequent runs

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⚙️ Configuration Best Practices

For Testing

{
  "playlistUrls": [{"url": "..."}],
  "maxVideosPerPlaylist": 20,
  "includeVideoDetails": true
}

For Production

{
  "playlistUrls": [{"url": "..."}],
  "includeVideoDetails": true
}

For Speed

{
  "playlistUrls": [{"url": "..."}],
  "includeVideoDetails": false
}

For Complete Data

{
  "playlistUrls": [{"url": "..."}],
  "includeVideoDetails": true
}

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🛡️ Legal & Compliance

What This Actor Does

This actor extracts publicly available playlist and video metadata from YouTube. All data extracted is information that YouTube makes accessible through normal web browsing.

Important Compliance Notes

You are responsible for ensuring your use complies with:

• ✅ YouTube's Terms of Service
• ✅ Applicable copyright laws
• ✅ Data protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
• ✅ Your local jurisdiction's laws

Best Practices

• ✅ Only extract public playlists
• ✅ Respect content creators' rights
• ✅ Don't use data for illegal purposes
• ✅ Follow YouTube's Terms of Service
• ✅ Respect rate limits and don't abuse the service

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📞 Support & Resources

Need Help?

📧 Email: flowextractapi@outlook.com
🌐 Website: flowextractapi.com
🐦 Twitter: @FlowExtractAPI
💼 LinkedIn: flowextract-api

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